Choices of the Heart

French actor Gerard Depardieu's story that he shot and feasted on two lions has been blasted by animal welfare charities as "unlikely" and careless. The Cyrano de Bergerac star recently revealed he dined on a duo of the wild cats during a trip to Africa after shooting the animals in an act of self-defence when the car he was travelling in broke down in Burkina Faso.
Asked if he had enjoyed "banquette de lion" following the big cat double kill, he told Britain's The Independent Magazine, "Yes... We broke down on a track in the bush, in Burkina Faso. The two lions waited in front of us and wouldn't move. Hours passed, and we couldn't get out of the car, the African driver was very afraid... We had no choice; we had to shoot them."
Animal welfare charities have now disputed the star's claims and questioned elements of his elaborate tale.
Christine Macsween of Lion Aid tells WENN, "It is as unlikely that this boast is true as Depardieu saying that he drinks 14 bottles of wine a day. If he shot two lions in Burkina Faso without a permit, he would be in jail."
A spokesperson from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals U.K. (PETA) criticised the actor's "ever-expanding waistline" and urged him to make more humane dietary choices, adding, "Lions live in families, roaming miles of territory, dutifully and responsibly raising their young. It's clear that Depardieu cares little about that and allows his stomach to rule his head and heart... He may not care about others, but if he cares about himself, he can reduce his ever-expanding waistline and risk of a heart attack that goes with it by choosing fakin' bacon and veggie roasts, which taste similar to real animal flesh but have none of the cholesterol and saturated fat."

If you have ever read a single thing I've ever written, you might know, I love One Direction. A lot. So it might come as no surprise to you, but over here at Hollywood.com, we are FREAKING OUT about the "Steal My Girl" muisc video release on Vevo. We were ecstatic when the song first released. Now that the video is here, we can barely speak.
Before you even scroll a centimeter further, watch the video right this second:
Vevo
Perfectly 1D, right? Gymnasts. Liam leading a band? Niall's entire outfit and dance. A chimp + Louis = the dream team. Harry's almost $4,000 jacket. Zayn and sumo wrestlers. And obviously, Danny DeVito (I love your work!).
Doesn't this just melt your heart?
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There was the perfect amount of Harry:
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And Niall's gorgeous face:
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Hell, even whatever was going on here for Liam and Zayn was just perfect:
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Before the video even released on Vevo, people were mentally preparing themselves (us too):
I'M CRYING OK? #EMABiggestFans1D #StealMyGirlVideo pic.twitter.com/aBfh3gbBt3
— flawless (@Love1Dspanish) October 23, 2014
IM WHEEZING BC THE MUSIC VIDEO'S COMING OUT TOMORROW OMFNEHGB #EMABiggestFans1D #StealMyGirlVideo
— ∘*✧ food + niall ∘*✧ (@irishbabenixll) October 23, 2014
The fact that the #StealMyGirlVideo is being released tomorrow has me like #EMABiggestFans1D @onedirection pic.twitter.com/HM6rqi0UyJ
— [.x.Sarah_Jane.x.] (@Kill__The__DJ) October 23, 2014
One Direction is trying to break the Vevo record with this single:
Let's go for the record tomorrow guys. Most @Vevo views ever in 24 hours #StealMyGirlVEVORecord http://t.co/OiASQ7v1XC
— One Direction (@onedirection) October 23, 2014
And their fans intend on making sure they break Vevo instead:
I AM SO EXITED FOR STEAL MY GIRL VIDEO!!! CAN'T WAIT TO BREAK THAT RECORD!! #StealMyGirlVideo #EMABiggestFans1D
— teresa !11!! (@kindaofteresa) October 23, 2014
CANT WAIT FOR #StealMyGirlVideo let us break the vevo record #EMABiggestFans1D pic.twitter.com/Y1Wqm0Vrrc
— FOUR (@xshakeelax) October 23, 2014
"The fandom tomorrow when the #StealMyGirlVideo is out" pic.twitter.com/cD5huCVgMY
— Alice. | Please TV (@xashtondrugs) October 23, 2014
Then the video released and no one was prepared for it:
Well that was a whole bunch of awesome randomness haha #stealmygirl
— Captain Styles (@Tracking1D) October 24, 2014
So, I just finished watching the #StealMyGirl video and pic.twitter.com/tEh1hFzT0O
— kell ☯ old af 1D (@nottween1Dfans) October 24, 2014
I HONESTLY CANT BELIEVE HOW MANY FUNNY CUTE HOT AMAZING MOMENTS THERE ARE IN THIS MUSIC VIDEO #StealMyGirl
— hayley (@narrytomlinsonn) October 24, 2014
People had the right priorities:
when your coworkers start talking about BBQ restaurants and you want to correct their choices but you're too busy watching #StealMyGirl
— LeeAnn Kjos (@leeannkjos) October 24, 2014
I know what i'll be watching all day! #StealMyGirl is AMAZING! My favorite video of theirs so far, LOVE IT!!! @onedirection @DannyDeVito
— iloveyouharry (@iiiloveu1D_) October 24, 2014
People were thanking God for this gift:
I would like to thank God &amp; my weak wifi for pausing this video at exactly this angelic moment. #StealMyGirl pic.twitter.com/CKciHBdWYx
— Sana - ADW (@sanaalovee) October 24, 2014
People were absolutely obsessed with Louis and the Chimp:
when Louis holds the chimps hand I get jealous is that normal why am I jealous of a chimp #StealMyGirl #EMABiggeatFans1D
— j // 1d af (@louis_frappe) October 24, 2014
Louis and that monkey though!!! So cute!!! #StealMyGirl
— Geneva (@geneva_here) October 24, 2014
Seeing louis being all cute and holding hands with the monkey was the best thing that has ever happened to me. #StealMyGirl
— charlotta (@cchallu) October 24, 2014
Someone got detention over this:
AT SCHOOL AND JUST WATCHED STEAL MY GIRL IN SCIENCE @onedirection I GOT DETENTION BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT #StealMyGirl
— Queen || yeet (@mashtonssquad) October 24, 2014
This tweet perfectly describes how obsessed with 1D we all are:
You know you're deeply in love with a band when their weirdest and most irrelevant music video still makes u happy #StealMyGirl
— Rose (@hakunabanana) October 24, 2014
GOOD JOB GUYS!
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Vevo/weheartit.com
Did you love the video, or did you love it? Tweet us your thoughts!
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Actor-turned-TV presenter Mario Lopez has revealed he did not use protection when he lost his virginity at the age of 12. The former Saved by the Bell star explains he was interested in women at a young age and his carnal desires have led him to make "crazy" choices.
In his memoir, Just Between Us, he writes, "Yes the rumours are true: I love women and have always been fascinated by them. It was around age 12 that I became a bit of a natural with girls - maybe a little too natural. When it's the day before your 13th birthday and you are alone with a sweet young beauty, letting nature take its course is not always advisable.
"My first time, we were so caught up in figuring out what to do that I didn't even use a condom! Which is crazy at any age, never mind at 12. But once I had sex, I was hooked."
Lopez also admits his penchant for the opposite sex led to the demise of his marriage to actress Ali Landry in 2004, which lasted less than a month.
He explains, "Suffice it to say that (at my bachelor party) I got inebriated and a little too friendly with a young lady. When it was time to return home lightning hit me with the truth: I wasn't in love.
"But I walked down the aisle and said, 'I do'. In my heart , I was screaming, 'I do not, What am I doing?' I finally got the courage to say, 'I'm sorry. I can't be in this marriage. It's not right for either of us'. She was hurt and angry, rightfully so."
Lopez is now happily married to Courtney Mazza and the couple has two children.

Getty Images/Jon Kopaloff
Jillian Rose Reed’s friends say she’s nothing like her character Tamara on Awkward but, after talking to her, we learned that’s not 100% true. For starters, they both talk really fast. Jillian has been playing Tamara, best friend to the show’s main star Jenna (Ashley Rickards), for the last four years now, and she’ gotten very close to her character. She discusses how she and Tamara are different (and a little alike), how she feels about Tamara/Jake and Jenna/Matty, and what her favorite scene was to film on the show.
Check out our exclusive interview with the star here:
Is there any slang from the show that you use in real life?
Actually, there’s quite a few that most of the cast actually uses. A lot of them are from season 1. We all use DTR (define the relationship), we still use that one on the show. I feel like that the majority of people use that one. But I also use Big Fail Mary (something that does not go as planned) which is from season 1 in regards to a failed situation. So yeah, we do.
What was your favorite episode to film last season?
Oh gosh. From this past season? I think it would probably have to be just the sequence of episodes where Jake and Tamara broke up. There was one specific one, where Jake and Tamara are fighting in the school quad area. I got to do this really funny bit, where I take Jake’s harmonica and I pound it on a table and I rub a banana all in it. That was really, really, really fun to shoot, because it’s not often, (well that’s not true, I do get to do physical stuff) but it’s been a while since I got to some really out there physical comedy and I love doing that stuff. It’s really fun for me.
That sounds fun. Have you pushed to have any more physical comedy like that on the show in the next season?
I do actually! One of my favorite episodes in this upcoming season I get to a do a little bit, we’ll call it “dancing.”
Actually, speaking of Jake…do you want him and T to get back together? Are you rooting for them to wind up with each other?
I have always loved Jake and Tamara from the beginning of their relationship. In high school, I think it’s so easy to get caught up in boys and all of that stuff. Obviously, in the beginning of their relationship, there was a tricky situation with Jenna and Jake’s past, but I truly feel that Jake is Tamara’s true, real love. I think that they’ll always love each other and always have something really special. So yeah, I definitely root for them. I would definitely want to see them work something out in the future.
What do you like the most about some of the characters on the show? We know there’s a ton, so you can give us your favorite two.
Aside from Tamara, I have to say my two favorite characters are probably Sadie and Valerie. That’s because they are just so funny. You know, I’m a comedic actress and I love comedy and I think both of those characters, and both of the actresses who play them, are just so phenomenal and so on point all the time that if I had to choose another character I could play for the day, it would have to be one of those.
Do you think you’re at all like Tamara or you two totally different?
There are some similarities, but I feel like if you ask my close friends they’d say that there are no similarities at all. But I definitely feel like there are a little bit. Tamara’s been with me for 4 years now, so there’s a little bit of me inside of her. We’ve both talk really fast, I’m a little overdramatic, and Tamara is a little overdramatic, so we have similarities there. As far as differences, she’s a little bit girlier than I am, in the way that she carries herself and the way that she dresses. I tend to be a little bit more edgy, or maybe it’s sloppy. I haven’t figured out the word yet. She goes to high school every day in her perfectly matched outfits and heels. I went to high school in my sweatpants.
We really like some of the fashion choices she’s made, do you envy her closet or is your style a bit more laidback?
There’s definitely moments where she will wear something that is super my style or paired with something that is my style. It’s funny that you mention that, because I took home a bunch of stuff. I went through the wardrobe trailer like “I’m gonna take this, and I’m gonna take this, and I’m gonna take this!” I still have stuff from season 1. Season 1 Tamara wore a lot that I have a lot of as well.
Are any of the actors like their characters on the show?
I would say that there are probably similarities that you can find between all of the actors and their characters. But everyone also has major, major differences. Like for example, Nikki DeLoach plays Lacey. Nikki is a person in my life who has the biggest heart. She is so genuine and you get to see that when she plays Lacey, there’s these really heartfelt moments between her and Jenna, where I’m like “that’s totally Nikki!” But then, in reverse, Lacey is super self-involved and you know, not always the best mom. That is the complete opposite of Nikki, she’s always seeing what she can do for other people. She’s a new mom and she’s the best mom in the world. There’s definitely similarities and differences between all of us.
Check out what she has to say about Jenna and Matty on Page 2...
Getty Images/Michael Buckner
Are there any characters you wish you had more scenes with, like you love them on the show, but there isn’t much of a storyline crossover for Tamara and them?
Yeah, I totally wish I had more scenes with Val! I got a little bit more in this past season, I did in other seasons as well. I think it was season 3, that we explored that Val and Tamara are new BFFs for their trip to Europe. I wish we could have taken that a little bit further, and seen that in the current season. I think that both of the characters are so different and both so dynamic, that when they’re both in Val’s office together, it’s just funny.
Veering off that a bit, do you want Matty and Jenna to get back together?
I am hardcore Team Matty. I always have been. I feel like Jenna and Matty are the Ross and Rachel of our time. So I’m constantly rooting for them. I watch the show like a viewer most of the time, so any time Matty shows up at Jenna’s door, I like freak out. Any time they have a moment. I’m all about it. I want them to wind up together.
Is there anything about this season that you think viewers will be really excited about?
My one of my favorite episodes, is the one I kind of teased earlier with the dancing, the episode is centered on myself and Sadie. We’ve seen in the past that when Sadie and Tamara get together, it’s pretty crazy, but I think fans always really, really enjoy it. It’s an entire episode where they team up together. It was really fun to shoot, Molly is one of my best friends. I think fans will enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed filming it.
Do you and the cast members have viewing parties of the show? Or do you mainly watch with your friends?
Yeah, actually when I’m watching, I’m usually with another cast member. I go to Brett Davern’s (Jake!) a lot to watch the show. Nikki DeLoach always has people over, so we pretty much like to watch the show together as much as we can. We love each other so much, it’s so fun. If I’m not with a cast member, I’m usually with my family.
That’s really cute. Are you best friends with some of the cast outside of the show and hang out a lot?
All the time! We all just got back from a weekend in Kentucky because Desi (Val) got married. I’m literally planning a trip with Molly, as we speak. We hang out all the time.
That’s very sweet. It’s always nice to hear that people are friends behind the scenes.
Yeah! It just makes the job easier.
What can we look forward to seeing you in outside of Awkward?
Outside of Awkward, I have a few things going on! I will be stepping behind the camera for the first time. I will be producing a new movie, called Chained and Bound, which I am starring in. Actually, Nikki DeLoach is as well. It’s a little side project, that’s in the very early development stages. We’re really excited about it. It’s a really gritty and edgy movie that will be really different from what our Awkward viewers have seen us do.
What made you want to get behind the camera?
Well I was approached with this script actually a few years ago to play one of the characters. The woman who wrote it is a really close family friend of mine. As it got developed, I got more and more involved, and she approached me and asked if I wanted to come on as a producer, it just seemed really fun for me. I’ve learned a lot about producing and being behind the scenes. After I started filming Awkward, it was a really good way to learn about that stuff. So I thought, what a better way to do it than practice. I love the entertainment industry. I love all aspects of it, so if there are ways for me to get involved in another way, I liked to do it.
Awkward comes back 9/23 on MTV at 10p.m. Make sure you tune because it’s the bomb-dot-com.
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Actress Jennette Mccurdy has broken her silence following the cancellation of her hit kids TV show Sam & Cat, revealing she has now left the Nickelodeon network altogether and hopes to move on with her life. The hit iCarly and Victorious spin-off, which also featured singer Ariana Grande, was axed earlier this month (Jul14) following a stand-off between McCurdy and producers, which led to her refusing to attend this year's Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards to pick up the Best TV Comedy prize.
Grande has already posted a lengthy statement about the show's demise on Facebook, and now McCurdy has spoken out as part of a Reddit.com fan chat on Thursday (24Jul14).
It appears she was unhappy with her role model status that landed her in trouble with TV bosses when images of her in just her underwear appeared online earlier this year (14).
She wrote, "I am not a role model. I don't claim to be, I don't try to be, and I don't want to be. This world is one seemingly most keen on judgment and negativity, despite all the hearts and smiley emoticons. To remove myself from the role model battle, the falsified standard set by the bubblegum industry, is - in my eyes - to remove myself from the counterintuitive battle of attempting to be something perfect while being glaringly aware of my imperfections."
And she clearly isn't making any apologies for the saucy images she claims an ex-boyfriend posted online, which landed her in hot water with Sam & Cat bosses.
She added, "I am proud of the way I live my life. I am proud of my choices. I am proud that no one can call me fake or say I don't stand up for myself. I am proud that my friends and family would say that I'm a good person. Calling a celebrity a role model is like calling a stranger a role model.
"The knowledge you have of a celebrity is no more than a caricature drawn by media tastemakers specializing in selling you an image you’re dying to buy. It’s good to have heroes, but you have to look for them in the right places. They say don’t look for true love in a bar, well I say, don’t look for role models on screens...
"Sure, I still love my teddy bears. I still love a heart emoji (the white heart in the pink box is my favorite) and I still have a soft spot for American Girl dolls. I still love a cute dress, a good pop song, and a vanilla-scented candle. But these things don't define me or determine that I am any kind of a role model. What defines a person as a role model is the way they live their life. And no offense, but none of you know how I live my life."

This Post Contains Spoilers for the Upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy!
With all of the attention surrounding the Avengers franchise in the last few days, Marvel wanted to make sure the world didn’t forget that they have another team of superheroes hitting screens in just a couple of weeks. And the way they chose to go about that was by revealing a cast list that let some of the most exciting, buzzed about and truly bizarre cameos in Guardians of the Galaxy slip to the entire Internet. According to Stitch Kingdom, cult favorite Nathan Fillion will be appearing as “Monstrous Inmate,” – which is a bit of a letdown, considering the amount of press his cameos has generated over the past few months – Stan Lee will play “Xandarian Ladies Man,” and Howard the Duck will be making an appearance as himself.
Yes, you read that last sentence correctly: Howard the Duck will be in Guardians of the Galaxy. It hasn’t be revealed why, when, or how he will make a cameo, but he will be there, and Stitch Kingdom has the casting scroll to prove it. But as absurd as it seems to have Howard the Duck, who despite his divisive feature film is a Marvel fan favorite, appear in Guardians of the Galaxy, it doesn’t even come close to topping the list of the most bizarre character crossovers and cameos. Seriously, there are things out there that are stranger and more confusing than the prospect of Howard hanging out with Rocket and Groot. Don’t believe us? Take a look for yourself:
Universal Pictures
Charles Barkley and Godzilla The union of the five-time NBA All-Star and two-time Hall of Famer and the giant mutant lizard that has been known to both spit fire and shoot lasers from his eyes was originally conceived as a Nike ad, and later expanded into a comic book. Because nothing says “cool sneakers” like a basketball-playing kaiju that can’t actually fit his giant feet into shoes. Also, who was buying that comic book?
Spider-Man and Ren and Stimpy There was once a time when you hadn’t properly made it until your cartoon got its own comic book. Unfortunately, some shows just aren’t meant to be read, and Ren &amp; Stimpy is one of them, so when the comic book (unsurprisingly) failed to sell, they brought in the big guns: Spider Man. In true Ren &amp; Stimpy fashion, Spidey took on Powdered Toast Man, that beloved vigilante superhero/breakfast food spokesman. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it was like to read a 12-year-old's fever dream, this is the comic for you.
Superman and the Quik Bunny Spider-Man isn’t the only superhero to succumb to some very obvious product placement. Superman one teamed up with the Quik Bunny, purveyor of powder that makes your milk brown, in order to fight the Weather Man, a lame villain with fourth-tier powers and a costume that made him look like he was starring in a community theater production of Robin Hood. At least Spider-Man had the dignity of fighting with a fictional breakfast-hero.
Inspector Gadget and Mario and Luigi Remember the Super Mario Bros. Super Show!? No? Well, that’s probably for the best, but it does mean that you missed seeing Inspector Gadget, the world’s more over-equipped and incompetent detective, get his various malfunctioning parts fixed by Mario and Luigi, who are supposed to be plumbers. You probably wouldn’t be surprised to find out that it goes horribly wrong, to no-doubt hilarious consequences. Clearly, the moral of this episode was to play to your strengths, and maybe not to call a plumber to fix a wire problem.
Archie Comics
Archie and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles On some level, this one probably makes some sense. After all, Archie and his friends are teenagers, and so are the Ninja Turtles. Both groups like pizza and video games and, from the looks of the cover, dance parties. But what’s really strange about this crossover is that it happened as the result of the Turtles being spit out by a giant cow head, which apparently allowed them to hop through various dimensions. Mutant ninja turtles or no, there had to be an easier way to get these guys to Riverdale.
Arthur and Mr. Rogers In what is perhaps the most well-meaning, mild-mannered crossover of all time, Mr. Rogers appeared on an episode of Arthur that centered around Arthur being embarrassed that the friendliest man on television was going to be staying at his house. Of course, this conflict is solved with a charming heart-to-heart that taught children that real friends don’t make fun of their friends for what they like. Unless that thing is Transformers. Not even Mr. Rogers can endorse Michael Bay.
Marvel Superheroes and Guiding Light You know who’s really into comic books and superheroes? The kind of people who religiously watch daytime soap operas – we’re assuming that was the pitch that got Guiding Light to team up with Marvel on a crossover episode that saw soccer mom Harley Davidson Cooper gain superpowers after being struck by lightning on Halloween night and transform into Guiding Light. (Seriously.) The saddest part of this is that Marvel clearly didn’t learn anything from their failed experiment at reaching a new audience, since they had the Thor announcement revealed on The View.
Batman and Robin and Scooby Doo When it comes to crime-fighting teams, there are two that stand above everyone else: Batman and Robin and the Mystery Gang. So teaming them up on The New Scooby Doo Movies to uncover a hooded counterfeiter who’s been sending the Penguin and the Joker fake money makes perfect sense, right? Sure, if you live in a world where Mrs. Baker is on the same level of super villainy as two of the most iconic comic book villains of all time. Fun fact: this episode was so poorly received that Batman later made fun of it in an episode of his own.
Cartoon All-Stars to the RescueThe plot of this movie sees cartoon favorites like Winnie the Pooh, Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Muppet Babies, the Looney Toons, and the Smurfs come to life in order to convince Michael to stop smoking pot, drinking, and stealing from his sister’s piggy bank for drug money. Because if anything is going to convince someone to stop doing drugs, it’s a bunch of cartoon characters who suddenly come to life and sing songs about life choices. Clearly, all D.A.R.E. really needed to be effective was Daffy Duck.
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Splash News
Pop star Jessica Simpson burst into tears as she walked down the aisle at her wedding on Saturday (05Jul14).
The singer/actress married former football player Eric Johnson at a ranch in Santa Barbara, California in front of more than 250 guests, and the ceremony was officiated by Simpson's father Joe.
The groom has now revealed his bride began crying as she walked down the aisle to him before they exchanged vows, telling People.com, "I saw my gorgeous wife coming towards me and she was crying. I think my heart was exploding a little bit."
Simpson adds of her big day, "It's so surreal. This has been something we've wanted ever since we met... It's all about family for us."
The couple is parents to a young son and daughter, who acted as a ring bearer and flower girl, and the singer reveals the youngsters received a rapturous reception as they walked out in front of the congregation, adding, "Before I walked out, I kept hearing all the applause, so my kids got standing ovations!"
Simpson wore a gold dress by Carolina Herrera for the ceremony, and later changed into a sparkly blue mini-dress for the reception, and she adds of her fashion choices, "Everybody thought I was going to wear a dress that completely showed off my new bod (body). But I can't help but want a princess dress! I'm a Southern girl at heart. I like everything big!"

20th Century Fox Film via Everett Collection
In the wake of The Fault in Our Stars' ride to the top of the box office on a wave of tears, there's been a great deal of debate about YA novels and their film adaptations. While the genre has many defenders, both young and old, some critics believe that anyone out of their teen years should abandon YA novels in favor of more mature, intellectually stimulating, and therefore more rewarding books. Still, as anyone who went to see the hit tearjerker can attest, moviegoers of all ages turned out for The Fault in Our Stars, since everyone, no matter how young or how old, loves a good cry. Just like everyone who enjoys a fun, exciting action movie went to see the first two installments of The Hunger Games, which broke box office records. And both adults and children filled out theaters to watch Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort fight a corrupt government in Divergent.
The films seems to be enjoyed by a wide, varied audience, so why should the books that they're based on be restricted to only middle schoolers? They're just as dark, just as complex, and just as entertaining, if not more so, than their big screen counterparts. Yes, these books and films are being targeted at a younger audience, but that doesn't mean that you have to be a certain age to find meaning and depth in these stories. Luckily, the trend of YA franchise adaptations doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon, with four major blockbusters due out before the rest of the year. That's not to mention the countless novels that have either been optioned by studios or are currently in the middle of casting and filming. All of these stories have plenty to keep an all-ages audience entertained, so we broke down the biggest YA releases of the year in order to make a case for why you should take a chance on them, both at the box office and at the book store.
The Fault in Our Stars What It’s About: When cancer-stricken Hazel Grace Lancaster is forced by her mother to attend a support group for other survivors, she meets the charming Augustus Waters, and after bodning over their favorite book and their illness, the two embark on a slightly twisted teenage love story. Who’s In It: Shailene Woodley as Hazel, Ansel Elgort as Gus, Nat Wolff as Isaac, Laura Dern as Hazel’s mom and Willam Dafoe as Peter Van Houten. Why It’s Worth Reading (at Any Age): Though sometimes the pretension of the main characters can rub people the wrong way, it’s a genuinely touching love story that feels realistic, rather than simply being a series of rom com clichés. Hazel and Gus’ relationship really is all about the small moments, and they’ll win you over and warm your heart… before they shatter it into a million pieces. Our Thoughts on the Film: Since The Fault in Our Stars did so well at the box office, we’re hoping it can help usher in a new generation of realistic, down-to-earth teen movies. Don’t get us wrong, we love a good fantasy adventure or dystopian future as much as the next person, but normal teenagers, without powers and without an oppressive government to overthrow can be just as moving and compelling.
The Giver Opens: August 15 What It’s About: Jonas lives in a futuristic utopian society that makes everyone equal through “Sameness,” which also eradicates emotions and color from their lives. However, when he starts his job as the Receiver of Memories, he gets a glimpse at the way the world used to be – messy, emotional, colorful, tragic and hopeful – and starts to question the world that he has always called home. Unfortunately, questioning is the one thing the government doesn’t want people to do. Who’s In It: Brenton Thwaites as Jonas, Jeff Bridges as The Giver, Meryl Streep as Chief Elder, and Taylor Swift as Rosemary. Why It’s Worth Reading (at Any Age): It encourages people to question their surroundings, to search for more, to not be content with accepting the status quo just because that’s the way things are, which is an important message not just for children, but for adults as well. The Giver also argues that even though life can be difficult and heartbreaking, we wouldn’t truly be living without experiencing those things. Plus, the ending still gets people of all ages riled up more than a decade later, which means it must be worth checking out. Our Hopes/Worries for the Movie: We’re pretty wary about this one, from what we’ve seen in the trailers. It looks like they’ve finally caught onto the fact that the lack of color is important to fans, but we’re still worried that the film has had some unnecessary action added to it in order to make it fit in better with the current slew of dystopian teen movies. Still, it has Streep and Bridges in the cast, so it’s got be good, right?
If I Stay Opens: August 22 What It’s About: After a car accident puts her in a coma, Mia has an out-of-body experience where she can hear and see everything that’s going on around her. After learning about the death of her family, she must decide whether to go with them, or stay in a world full of tragedy. Who’s In It: Chloe Grace Moretz as Mia and Jamie Blackley as Adam. Why It’s Worth Reading (at Any Age): Everyone loves a good, cathartic cry, and this is just the book to cause one. But it’s also a story about the choices we make and how they affect our lives, as well as one about persevering through heartache and loss. Our Hopes/Fears for the Movie: The trailer seems to focus more on Mia’s romance with Adam than on her love for music and her relationship with the family, both of which are just as crucial to the story. While their relationship is a major part of what makes If I Stay so great, we don’t want it to dwarf all of the other great aspects of Mia’s story.
20th Century Fox Film
The Maze Runner Opens: September 19What It’s About: Thomas wakes up in a place called The Glade with no memory of anything other than his name. As he tries to recall his past life, he learns about the society of boys that has been established there, and about the Maze that might be their only hope of escape. Nobody has ever survived a night in the Maze, but Thomas thinks that nighttime might be their only opportunity out, as more and more kids start dying. And then, one day, a girl arrives at The Glade, claiming to know Thomas… Who’s In It: Dylan O’Brien as Thomas, Kaya Scodelario as Theresa, Will Poulter as Gally and Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt. Why It’s Worth Reading (At Any Age): If you’re looking for a fun, exciting adventure with a slowly unravelling mystery at its center, The Maze Runner is the book for you. It’s a quick read, but an enjoyable one, and all of the characters at The Glade are funny, frustrating and compelling. Our Hopes/Fears For the Movie: The film will succeed or fail on its version of the Maze and the Grievers that inhabit it, as both are such a key part of the story. They’ll need to be genuinely terrifying in order for the story to have any weight, but the Grievers are a tricky creature to adapt. However, we’re looking forward to a different take on the dystopian genre, and The Maze Runner should make for a fun fall popcorn movie.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Opens: November 21 What It’s About: After defeating the Quarter Quell, Katniss Everdeen becomes the eluctant face of the revolution to overthrow the Capitol and free the citizens of Panem. Who’s In It: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland and Julianne Moore. Why It’s Worth Reading (at Any Age): Though it’s the least popular installment in the Hunger Games trilogy, it still has everything you loved from the first books: action, excitmement, high emotional stakes, a strong heroine, and compelling, flawed characters. Our Hopes/Fears for the Film: Mostly, we’re just concerned with how and where the film will be split in two, as choosing that point of separation is always difficult. We’re also hoping that a third (and fourth) record-breaking opening will finally convince studios to make more female-fronted action films. Clearly, there’s an audience for them.
Insurgent Opens: March 20, 2015 What It’s About: Tris and Four must continue to fight against a powerful alliance that will tear the city apart, and could lead most of the population to their deaths. Who’s In It: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, Kate Winslet, and Octavia Spencer. Why It’s Worth Reading (at Any Age): Because you read or watched the first installment in the Divergent series and you’re dying to know what happens next. Our Hopes/ Fears for the Film: Look, Hollywood, it’s a second successful female-led blockbuster franchise. Is that enough to help change your mind?
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When it comes to bizarre and unpredictable career choices, nobody has the market cornered quite like Nicolas Cage. But his latest project might just be his weirdest yet - and yes, we're including combustible ghost-skeletons, father-daughter vigilante duos and angry drivers on that list. In the upcoming Left Behind, Cage plays Rayford Steele, a pilot who must find answers after half of the passengers on his plane disappear in the Rapture. The film, which also stars One Tree Hill's Chad Michael Murray and American Idol's Jordin Sparks, is based on a series of popular Christian apocalypse novels, which were previously made into a direct-to-DVD movie starring Kirk Cameron.
It makes perfect sense that the producers of Left Behind would want Cage to star in their film - partly because it will attract a wider audience, but mostly because he stares down the apocalypse on a regular basis - but that's about the only thing that makes sense in the first trailer for the film. We've rounded up all of the weirdest, most baffling moments in the trailer in order to attempt to make sense of not only Left Behind, but also the mysterious mind of Cage himself. Until those secrets are revealed, we can only assume that production met his requirements of serving hot lunch daily.
Someone Let Nicolas Cage Fly a Plane (0:06) Would you be willing to put your life and vacation plans in his hands? We didn't think so.
A Large Sign Instructs Viewers to 'Pray' (0:13) Because making through this movie in one piece will only be possible through an act of God.
The Plane Is Tossed Around in a Storm (0:32) Surely the storm would realize who's piloting that plane and change course before Cage unleashes his fury upon it. If anyone could figure out how to physically beat back lightning, it's the guy who made Season of the Witch.
Chad Michael Murray Is Filming the Empty Seats (0:36) Yes, we're curious as to why those people suddenly vanished, but we're more confused as to why he thinks he'll be able to find answers more effectively than a man who once stole the Declaration of Independence.
Nicolas Cage's Face Doesn't Move... (0:38)Yet he still manages to convey confusion, distress and authority in that oddly blank stare.
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Someone's Screaming About God, and It's Not Nicolas Cage (0:46) Sorry, pretty blonde girl, but Nicolas Cage is the only person who can scream to the heavens and actually receive a reply. He's the only person God truly fears.
Nicolas Cage's Face Still Isn't Moving (0:52) We can only assume that he's making so many films at the same time that he's started sending wax figures of himself to set in order to fill in for him on reaction shots and close-ups. Luckily, he chose an appropriately menacing one for this film.
Nicolas Cage Whispers About Important Life Philosophies (0:53 - 0:56) Does his advice make any sense? Not really. Should we all take his words to heart anyway, and change the way we choose to live our lives? Definitely.
Someone's Running From an Explosion, and It's Not Nicolas Cage (0:58)If a bomb goes off, but he's is otherwise occupied (in this case, crying into a cell phone he shouldn't be using on a plane), does it really explode?
This Movie Is Being Released in Theaters (1:00) We'd blame all the people who went to see God's Not Dead and Heaven Is For Real, but if those movies weren't a success, we'd all be robbed of the experience of watching Nicolas Cage face off against God in an action movie. It is truly a showdown for the ages.
Left Behind opens in theaters on October 3.
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AMC
A quick run-through of everything this week's episode of Mad Men has to offer: threesomes, cartoon monkeys, hippie parties, evil computers, and a guy who cuts off his own nipple. But if you want to get to the heart of the strangeness of "The Runaways," you have to appreciate the peculiar choices episode director/series cinematographer Christopher Manley made in shooting it.
The ep poses a stark contrast to Mad Men's usual structure (a few patient, meaty scenes many minutes in length, flowing seamlessly into one another) with a collection of jagged 15-second clips that lob off mid-conversation or immediately after someone picks up the phone; twice this latter technique is used, once with Betty and once with Megan. We can chalk this up to the throughline of people not getting what they want in this episode — Don wants to see Stephanie (the niece of the late Ana Draper, who phones him in hopes of getting a little support for her fatherless baby-on-the-way), Megan wants to save her marriage, Ginsberg wants to defeat the nefarious machine wreaking havoc on Sterling Cooper &amp; Partners (and woo Peggy), Lou Avery wants a little respect for his beloved comic strip creation Scout, and Betty wants... ugh, who knows — a theme that collapses when the most unpredictable desire is met: Don gets his groove back.
Way back when, Don earned the ire of cigarette kingpin Philip Morris when he penned an editorial decrying the health problems caused by their product. It was the first in a string of antics that fissured Don's stellar reputation in the advertising game, particularly in the eyes of his own bosses and partners. The climax of that string, of course, cost him his place at SC&amp;P at the end of last season, so a mending of the former might be the right touch (psychologically and thematically) to undo the latter. We can't really see Mad Men let Don taking his seat back at the head of the industry, so we're a bit perplexed as to what his apparently fruitful ad hoc chat with the Philip Morris boys this week will lead to (if not just the displeasure of Lou Avery and Harry Hamlin). But mystery aside, Don's determined play at the cigarette account is the only thing about "The Runaways" that feels cohesively put together.
AMC
The episode is littered with awkward gambits. Cautious reveals are shafted for abject ones (re: the initial shot of Stephanie's pregnant body), subtlety is all but foregone in thematic references (that 2001: A Space Odyssey send-up went over nobody's head), an incriminating conversation is overheard by the wrongest of persons from a bathroom stall (come on, guys, didn't something like this just happen in "A Day's Work"?). "The Runaways" strings together incredibly bizarre conceits, Michael Ginsberg's sudden schizophrenic explosion topping the lot, with such overt techniques and uncomfortably paced scenes that you can't help but wonder if what you're watching is next-level genius or a severe artistic mishap.
But the material is all interesting. Even the dreadful locking of horns of Mr. and Mrs. Francis lands us some cherished time with Sally, whom we get to see adorn little brother Bobby with that same big-hearted kindness to which she treated Don a couple weeks back — it's adorable, and dripping with severity. Megan's play at a drug-induced threesome "for Don" (after growing jealous and suspicious of his concern for pregnant Stephanie) might be frustratingly ill-fated, but we get the feeling that it's the penultimate straw for the pair. And Ginsberg losing his mind over Sterling Cooper &amp; Partners' new computer, devising homophobic conspiracy theories, jumping Peggy in her own apartment, mutilating himself (his severed nipple "for Peggy" beats Megan's ménage à trois by just a touch as the worst way to win someone's heart), and being carted off by mental health professionals is all enthusiastically stirring, if still outrageous enough to call the script's judgment into question.
But, being told mostly from Peggy's point of view, it has its place. This job will kill them all. The future has no patience for (or interest in) men and women who aren't ready for it. And as Ginsberg is wheeled off screaming, Peggy begins to cry. Both for her suffering friend and for herself. Having seen her own era take down Don, she knows she might be next.
Episode grade: B, with bonus points to Don for getting us away from Megan's banjo party so quickly
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Synopsis

The dramatization of the story of Jean Donovan, who evolved from a free-spirited college student to a deeply committed lay missionary, giving up her family, friends and finance to work on behalf of the poor in El Salvador. In December 1980, she and three Maryknoll nuns were slain by five members of El Salvador's National Guard. Initially called "Roses" and then called "In December the Roses Will Bloom Again," it united Melissa Gilbert, in her fourth starring movie for her Half-Pint Productions, with Martin Sheen as an Irish priest who was Donovan's inspiration, Mike Farrell as American Ambassador Robert White, and Rene Enriquez as assassinated El Salvador church leader, Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero.